Burial system with sealed casket made of plastic

ABSTRACT

A system for burying a plurality of human remains in a normal cemetery gravesite, including a burial vault having a plurality of vertically disposed chambers, and a casket receivable in said chambers. The casket is made completely from plastic and has a frustoconical configuration, the casket body having an elongated opening therein for use in placing the remains in the casket, and to thereafter provide for viewing of the remains. Cover means is provided to close the opening, and is welded in place to provide a completely sealed casket.

United States Patent nu ,4

[72] Inventor DonagdtA. .lsalbtlrsrt 3,353,238 1 H1967 Sieloff 27/7 616 th t., artlesville, Okla. 74003 pp NO. 717,628 FOREIGN PATENTS [22] Filed Apr 1,1968 36,631 3/1886 Germany .r 27/35 (45 Patented June 1, 1971 OTHER REFERENCES American Funeral Director" pp. 64, 66 May, 1965 Vol 88 #5 s4 BURIAL SYSTEM WITH SEALED CASKET MADE Primary ExaminerFrank Abbott 0 PLASTIC Assistant Examiner-Sam D. Burke, ll] 7 Claims, 3 Drawing i Att0rney-Bac0n & Thomas [52] U.S. Cl 52/133,

27/7, 27/35 ABSTRACT: A system for burying a plurality of human [51] 1nt.Cl ..E04h 13/00, remains in a normal cemetery gravesite, including a burial 3 l7/00 vault having a plurality of vertically disposed chambers, and a Fleld Of Search casket receivable in said chambers The casket is made 1 124, 27/1, 1 35 completely from plastic and has a frustoconical configuration, the casket body having an elongated opening therein for use in [56] References cued placing the remains in the casket, and to thereafter provide for UNITED STATES PATENTS viewing of the remains. Cover means is provided to close the 2,060,791 1 1/1936 Cockrell et a1. 52/125 opening, and is welded in place to provide a completely sealed 3,230,844 l/l966 lsaacs 52/2OX casket.

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BURIAIL SYSTEM WITH SEALED CASKET MADE OF IPILASTIC BACKGROUND OF TH E INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to caskets and burial vaults for intering human remains. More particularly, it relates to a burial system for vertically burying a plurality of human remains in a single cemetery gravesite, including a unique frustoconical, completely sealed casket made completely of plastic.

2. Description of the Prior Art There have been many proposals over the years for caskets and burial vaults, and currently a wide variety of both is available. Normally, the caskets and vaults are intended to be buried so that they will lie horizontally, and usually only one burial is made in each gravesite.

The horizontal system of burial currently in use has served well, but results in an inefiicient utilization of cemetery space. In addition, presently available caskets and burial vaults are quite expensive, and this coupled with the high cost of cemetery lots is causing burial expenses to rise alarmingly. Land for cemetery use is becoming less and less available, which in part accounts for the increasing cost of burial lots.

Thus, it is apparent that there is need for a new burial system, one providing maximum utilization of available gravesites, and which results in a substantial saving on burial expenses.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present burial system the caskets are placed vertically rather than horizontally, which provides for greater than normal utilization of a burial or gravesite. The invention includes a unique burial vault, dimensioned to fit the space provided by a normal gravesite and designed with three vertical burial chambers to permit the individual burial of three caskets. The burial chambers are each closed by a slab cover, and any one can be entered at any time without disturbing the remaining chambers.

The casket of the invention is especially designed for vertical burial, although it can be used in the conventional manner if desired. The casket is made completely of plastic, and is designed to be completely sealed so that it can be easily placed in or removed from one of the burial vault chambers.

The present casket includes a one-piece, frustoconical hollow body, closed by caps at its opposite ends. The casket body has an elongated opening therein extending from the larger diameter end of the body to near the smaller diameter end thereof, the opening providing access for placing human remains in the casket. A board is secured to the interior of the casket facing the opening, and supports the remains. The smaller diameter end of the casket contains a footrest plate, which can be adjusted to accommodate bodies of different heights.

The portion of the casket opening nearer the smaller diameter end of the casket is closed by a cover, welded in place. Welded here is utilized in a broad sense, and includes a heat weld, or a chemical solvent weld, or the like, of the plastic members. The other portion of the opening is left open to allow viewing or waking of the deceased, and then is closed by a lid, also welded in place.

The frustoconical casket body is structurally sound, and can be easily molded of plastic. The closure caps can be separately formed, and then welded in place. The sides of the casket body have integrally molded handles thereon, which are recessed to provide a uniform frustoconical exterior free of projections. Such an exterior makes possible easy and sure placement of the casketin its vault chamber.

The vault includes a body portion having a planar top face, surrounded by an upstanding perimeter flange. The body has three chambers therein, all of which open on the planar top face. The chambers are each frustoconical to receive the frustoconical caskets, and the axes thereof lie in a common plane and are parallel.

A cover is fitted over each chamber, and is secured in position and made watertight. Any one cover can be removed to provide access to its chamber, without affecting the other covers and chambers. Each cover has a depression in its top surface, within which the lower end of a grave marker is received and secured.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a burial system wherein caskets containing human remains are disposed vertically, to achieve maximum utilization of a gravesite.

Another object is to provide a burial vault and casket combination designed to effect vertical burying of the dead.

A further object is to provide a burial vault that can fit into a standard gravesite and contain three caskets, the vault being designed with three separate casket chambers, each of which can be entered without disturbing the other two.

Still another object is to provide a casket made completely of plastic, which can be manufactured at low cost and completely sealed prior to burial.

It is also an object to provide a plastic casket designed to be both light in weight and structurally sound, and which presents a projection free surface.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view looking down on a gravesite fitted with the three-chamber burial vault of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the vault of FIG. 1, showing in detail the construction of the burial vault, and the manner in which caskets constructed according to the invention are received therein;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper or larger diameter end of the plastic casket of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the casket of FIG. 3, showing the body cover and the lid welded in position preparatory to burial, and showing the recessed handles for use by pallbearers in carrying the casket;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the casket taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3, and further shows the construction thereof;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on. the line 7-7 in FIG. 5, showing the details of the footrest assembly; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 4, showing the construction of one of the recessed, integrally molded casket handles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. l and 2 of the drawings, the present burial vault is indicated at 2, and contains three frustoconical chambers 4 for receiving the plastic casket 6 of the invention. The burial vault 2 and the casket 6 of the present burial system are designed to make economical use of a cemetery grave, indicated at 8 in the drawing.

A typical gravesite in a cemetery will measure about 12 feet long by 5 feet in width. The grave 8 is dug well within these dimensions, and typically will measure about 10 feet in length, by 3 feet, 8 inches in width, by 8 feet in height. By utilizing the burial vault and the casket of the present invention, three burials can be made in the grave 8, independently and without in any way disturbing remains previously buried.

The burial vault 2 includes a rectangular body 10 made of reinforced concrete, and having a bottom wall 12, end walls 14 and sidewalls l6, and a planar top wall or surface 18. Extending upwardly from the top wall 18 is an integral rectangular flange 20, the external end and sidewalls 22 and 24 of which lie flush with the end and sidewalls l4 and 16 of the body 10, respectively. The internal end and side flange walls 26 and 28 extend vertically from the horizontal planar surface 18, and the flange 18 terminates in a planar top surface 30.

The frustoconical chambers 4 are disposed with their longitudinal axes lying in the same plane and parallel to each other, and extend downwardly into the vault body from the planar top surface 18. The chambers 4 are each closed by a square cover 32 made of reinforced concrete, all of the covers 32 being identical. The distance between the flange sidewalls 28 is one-third the distance between the flange end walls 26, and the covers 32 measure slightly less than the distance between the walls 28. Thus, the three covers 32 fit snugly within the rectangular flange 20, the chambers 4 being placed so that they will be centered beneath their associated covers when such are in place.

The covers 32 have a thickness substantially equal to the height of the perimeter flange 20, and each includes parallel, planar top and bottom surfaces 34 and 36, and vertical sidewalls 38. The edges of the cover top surface 34 are chamfered as at 40, and each corner of the cover 32 has a hole 42 therethrough for receiving a bolt 44. The planar top surface 18 of the vault body 10 has threaded inserts 46 embedded therein, to receive the bolts 44 for securing the covers 32 in place. The covers 32 each have a pair of threaded sleeves 48 embedded in the top surface 34 thereof along a cross axis to which eye bolts (not shown) can be connected for use in lifting the cover.

Each of the covers 32 has a rectangular recess 50 in the top surface 34 thereof, which recess includes a bottom wall 52 having a pair of bores 54 therein. Received in each recess 50 is the lower end of a rectangular grave marker 56, having a pair of bores 58 therein aligned with the bores 54. The markers 56 include an inclined face 60 upon which a name can be carved or to which a memorial plate 61 can be attached, and each marker fits snugly within its associated recess 50. The markers 56 are secured in place by bolts 62, which have their opposite ends disposed in the bores 54 and 58, and which are secured within said bores by a suitable epoxy or similar material.

The casket 6 is designed for use in combination with the burial vault 2 in the present burial system, although it can also be employed like a conventional casket if desired. The design concept for the casket 6 includes forming the casket with no surface projections, so that it can be easily placed within one of the burial vault chambers 4. In addition, the casket is designed especially to be used for vertical burial, and the frustoconical configuration thereof not only ensures structural soundness, but makes it impossible to place the casket in an inverted position within the burial vault chamber 4.

The casket 6 is made entirely from a suitable plastic, whereby it can be molded inexpensively and will be light in weight as compared to a conventional casket. The casket is completely sealed after viewing of the remains is completed, by welding the lid in place. The lightweight, fully sealed casket can then be easily handled and shipped, at lower cost than any conventional casket.

Referring to FIGS. 3-8, the casket 6 includes a frustoconical hollow body molded integrally from a suitable plastic, the body 70 having cylindrical sockets 72 and 74 formed in its larger diameter and smaller diameter end faces 76 and 78, respectively. The casket body 70 has an elongated opening therein extending from the larger diameter end thereof toward the smaller diameter end for about four-fifths the length of said body, said opening being defined by side edges 80 and 82 that lie in a common plane displaced from a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the casket body, and by a transverse edge 84. Formed integrally with the casket body 70 to project forwardly from the transverse edge 84 is a shelf 86.

The casket body 70 has a plurality of recesses 88 formed therein, three on each side of the body in a common plane disposed parallel with and spaced from the axial plane, the plane containing the recesses being spaced from the axial plane about the same distance as the plane containing the lateral edges 80 and 82. lndentations 90 are molded in the casket body 70 to form the recesses 88, each indentation including an arcuate bottom wall 91, end walls 92, and sidewalls 94. Molded between the end walls 92 of each recess is a cylindrical handle 96, which is spaced from the wall 94 and lies flush with the exterior surface of the body 70. Thus, the exterior surface of the body 70 has a smooth frustoconical profile, free of all surface projections.

The casket body 70, except in the regions of the sockets 72 and 74, the shelf 86, and the indentations 90, is of uniform thickness throughout. The frustoconical configuration for the casket gives structural integrity to the body 70, so that a rela tively thin sidewall with accompanying lightness in weight can be utilized.

The larger diameter or head end of the casket body 70 is closed by a circular cap 98 having a planar undersurface 100, and a cylindrical rim 102 that fits tightly within the socket 72. The outer surface 104 of the cap 98 is planar and parallel to the surface 100, and isjoined to the rim 102 by a beveled edge 106. A recess 108 is formed in the end cap 98, and a handle 110 extends thereacross, the handle 110 lying flush with the surface 104 and being spaced from the bottom wall 112 of the recess 108. The handle 110 is for use in handling the casket, and is especially useful for lowering the casket into the burial vault chamber 4.

The smaller diameter or foot end of the casket body 70 is closed by an end cap 114, including a flat disc portion 116 from which depends a beveled flange 118 that terminates in a cylindrical rim 120 receivable tightly within the socket 74. The head end cap 98 and the foot end cap 114 are both welded to the body 70, to form a unified structure. Welding is used here and throughout the application in its broadest meaning, and includes the union of plastics utilizing heat, solvents, or other suitable chemicals.

Formed integrally on the undersurface 100 of the head closure cap 98 is a rectangular rib 122, disposed parallel to the common plane containing the indentations 90. A board 124 made of plastic is disposed with one end thereof resting on the rib 122 and with its other end resting on the inner surface of the casket body 70 at a point about midway the length thereof. The side edges of the board 124 are contoured to fit the inner wall of the casket body 70, and said board is welded in place and serves to support the upper portion of a human body placed in the casket through the elongated opening therein.

The casket 6 is designed to accommodate human bodies of varying height, and for this purpose a rectangular adjustable footplate 126 made of plastic is mounted within the foot or smaller diameter end of the casket. The plate 126 has a pair of bores 128 therethrough, spaced near the side edges of the plate along a central cross axis thereof. A pair of parallel rods 130 is connected at one end to the end cap 114, said rods passing through the bores 128 and each having a row of through transverse bores 132 therein. The plate 126 is slidable along the rods 130, and pins 134 are inserted into appropriate bores 132 behind the plate to secure it in proper position to serve as a footrest for a body of a given height.

To use the casket 6, the footrest plate 126 is first adjusted to the length of the body to be placed in the casket. The casket 6 is then placed horizontally in the normal manner, and the remains are inserted through the elongated opening and are properly arranged. A cover 136, with a length a little less than half the length of the opening, is then placed to rest on the shelf 86 and the edges 80 and 82, and is welded in position.

The cover 136 is made of plastic and has an arcuate contour mating with that of the casket body 70, so that it completes a frustoconical exterior surface for the casket over the length thereof. The cover 136 is welded along the full length of its sides 138 and 140 and its smaller end edge 142, and the larger end edge 144 thereof has an integral shelf 146 thereon similar to the shelf 86. After the cover 136 has been welded in position, the casket 6 can be placed on view for waking of the remains.

After viewing of the remains is completed, a lid 148 made of plastic is fitted on the remaining portion of the elongated opening. The smaller end 151) of the lid 148 rests on the shelf 146, the side edges 151 and 152 thereof rest on the edges 81) and 82, and the larger end 154 thereof is undercut at 156 to receive the cylindrical rim I02 of the head end cap 98. The lid 148 is arcuate and is shaped to complete the frustoconical shape of the casket 6, and is welded in position along all the edges thereof. Thus, when installation of the lid 148 is completed the casket 6 is completely sealed, and the frustoconical configuration thereof is completed so that great structural strength is achieved.

The casket 6 is then taken to the cemetery. lf it needs to be shipped, the lightweight, strong and completely sealed plastic casket can be easily and economically handled. Prior to burial, one of the burial vault chambers 4 is made ready to receive the casket.

To ready one of the chambers 4, the bolts 44 are removed from one of the covers 32, and the cover is removed. The casket 6 is then merely lowered into the open chamber, the frustoconical surface of the casket being free of projections so that insertion will be smooth and free of problems. Further, the frustoconical shape ensures that the casket 6 will not be inserted head-end first.

Before replacing the cover 32, a suitable epoxy or other sealant is spread on the mating portions of the cover and the surface 18. The cover 32 is then installed, and bolted down. The memorial marker 56 on the cover can thereafter be suitable adorned.

To further ensure that the chambers 4 are watertight, an epoxy or other suitable grout material C is placed over all of the joints between the covers 32, and between said covers and the flange 20. This grout can be easily removed and replaced, if access to one of the chambers 4 is required.

It should be noted that any one of the chambers 4 can be entered, without disturbing the others, except for the grout G. Thus, speedy burial is possible, and already placed remains need not be disturbed during future burials.

It is seen that the present burial system fulfills all of the objects set forth therefor. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in the light of the above teachings, and it is therefore understood that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically shown and described.

I claim:

1. A burial system, comprising in combination: a casket made completely of plastic, said casket having a frustoconical configuration; and a burial vault for receiving said casket, said vault including: a body portion having a planar face, and having therein a plurality of frustoconical chambers opening on said face andclosed at their inner end, said chambers each being dimensioned to receive said casket, the taper of the frustoconical surface of each chamber corresponding to the taper of said frustoconical casket, whereby said casket seats on said frustoconical surface when placed in one of said chambers and is thereby positively positioned, and the longitudinal axes of said chambers being parallel; a plurality of covers, one for each chamber; and means for securing said chamber covers to said planar face, said casket being placed and seated in one of said chambers and one of said chamber covers being secured in place to effect a burial.

2. A burial system, comprising in combination: a casket made completely of plastic, said casket comprising: a frustoconical hollow body closed at its opposite ends by caps, said casket body having an elongated opening therein extending from the larger diameter end thereof to near the smaller diameter end, whereby the remains can be placed in said casket; a cover adapted to fit and close the portion of said elongated opening near the smaller end of said casket body; a lid adapted to fit and close the remaining portion of said elongated opening, all of said casket body, said end caps, said casket cover and said casket lid being; made of plastic, and said casket lid and said casket cover being welded to said casket body prior to placement of said casket in said burial vault; and a burial vault for receiving said casket, said vault including: a body portion having a planar face, and having therein a plurality of frustoconical chambers opening on said face and closed at their inner end, said chamberseaeh being dimenstoned to recelve said casket, and the longitudinal axes of said chambers being parallel; a plurality of covers, one for each chamber; and means for securing said chamber covers to said planar face, said casket being placed in one of said chambers and one of said chamber covers being secured in place to effect a burial.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein said casket further includes: a board made of plastic mounted within said casket body to face said elongated opening, and adapted to support the remains thereon.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3, including addi tionally: a footrest plate made of plastic; and means for mounting said footrest plate within the smaller diameter end of said casket to face said board, said means being adjustable to effect positioning of said footrest plate at different positions along the axis of said casket body to thereby accommodate human bodies ofdifferent heights.

5. The combination as recited in. claim 1, wherein said casket includes handle means on the exterior thereof, said handle means being recessed, and the exterior surface of said frustoconical casket body being smooth and projection free over the length and circumference thereof.

6. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said burial vault body portion is disposed so that said planar face is horizontal and said chambers extend vertically downwardly from said face, the length and width of said body portion corresponding generally to the length and width of a standard cemetery grave, and their being three vertical chambers in said body portion.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said burial vault body portion includes a perimeter flange projecting upwardly from said horizontal planar face, said flange having a height about equal to the thickness of said chamber covers, and confining said chamber covers when all thereof are in place to prevent movement of said covers longitudinally or laterally of said planar face. 

1. A burial system, comprising in combination: a casket made completely of plastic, said casket having a frustoconical configuration; and a burial vault for receiving said cAsket, said vault including: a body portion having a planar face, and having therein a plurality of frustoconical chambers opening on said face and closed at their inner end, said chambers each being dimensioned to receive said casket, the taper of the frustoconical surface of each chamber corresponding to the taper of said frustoconical casket, whereby said casket seats on said frustoconical surface when placed in one of said chambers and is thereby positively positioned, and the longitudinal axes of said chambers being parallel; a plurality of covers, one for each chamber; and means for securing said chamber covers to said planar face, said casket being placed and seated in one of said chambers and one of said chamber covers being secured in place to effect a burial.
 2. A burial system, comprising in combination: a casket made completely of plastic, said casket comprising: a frustoconical hollow body closed at its opposite ends by caps, said casket body having an elongated opening therein extending from the larger diameter end thereof to near the smaller diameter end, whereby the remains can be placed in said casket; a cover adapted to fit and close the portion of said elongated opening near the smaller end of said casket body; a lid adapted to fit and close the remaining portion of said elongated opening, all of said casket body, said end caps, said casket cover and said casket lid being made of plastic, and said casket lid and said casket cover being welded to said casket body prior to placement of said casket in said burial vault; and a burial vault for receiving said casket, said vault including: a body portion having a planar face, and having therein a plurality of frustoconical chambers opening on said face and closed at their inner end, said chambers each being dimensioned to receive said casket, and the longitudinal axes of said chambers being parallel; a plurality of covers, one for each chamber; and means for securing said chamber covers to said planar face, said casket being placed in one of said chambers and one of said chamber covers being secured in place to effect a burial.
 3. The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein said casket further includes: a board made of plastic mounted within said casket body to face said elongated opening, and adapted to support the remains thereon.
 4. The combination as recited in claim 3, including additionally: a footrest plate made of plastic; and means for mounting said footrest plate within the smaller diameter end of said casket to face said board, said means being adjustable to effect positioning of said footrest plate at different positions along the axis of said casket body to thereby accommodate human bodies of different heights.
 5. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said casket includes handle means on the exterior thereof, said handle means being recessed, and the exterior surface of said frustoconical casket body being smooth and projection free over the length and circumference thereof.
 6. The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said burial vault body portion is disposed so that said planar face is horizontal and said chambers extend vertically downwardly from said face, the length and width of said body portion corresponding generally to the length and width of a standard cemetery grave, and their being three vertical chambers in said body portion.
 7. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said burial vault body portion includes a perimeter flange projecting upwardly from said horizontal planar face, said flange having a height about equal to the thickness of said chamber covers, and confining said chamber covers when all thereof are in place to prevent movement of said covers longitudinally or laterally of said planar face. 